Oxazole compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula 
                         
wherein R 3 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and Z, and other variables enumerated under one or more of R 3 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and Z, are as defined. Compounds of the Formula I have activity inhibiting production of Aβ-peptide. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating diseases, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer&#39;s disease, in a mammal comprising compounds of the Formula I.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. provisional application No. 60/498,028 filed Aug. 27, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. provisional application No. 60/492,884 filed Aug. 6, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative and/or neurological disorders in mammals, including humans. This invention also relates to inhibiting, in mammals, including humans, the production of Aβ-peptides that can contribute to the formation of neurological deposits of amyloid protein. More particularly, this invention relates to oxazole compounds useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative and/or neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome, related to Aβ-peptide production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dementia results from a wide variety of distinctive pathological processes. The most common pathological processes causing dementia are Alzheimer's disease (AD), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and prion-mediated diseases (see, e.g., Haan et al. Clin. Neurol. Neurosurg. 1990, 92(4):305–310; Glenner et al. J Neurol. Sci. 1989, 94:1–28). AD affects nearly half of all people past the age of 85, the most rapidly growing portion of the United States population. As such, the number of AD patients in the United States is expected to increase from about 4 million to about 14 million by the middle of the next century.

Treatment of AD typically is the support provided by a family member in attendance. Stimulated memory exercises on a regular basis have been shown to slow, but not stop, memory loss. A few drugs, for example Aricep™, provide treatment of AD.

A hallmark of AD is the accumulation in the brain of extracellular insoluble deposits called amyloid plaques and abnormal lesions within neuronal cells called neurofibrillary tangles. Increased plaque formation is associated with an increased risk of AD. Indeed, the presence of amyloid plaques, together with neurofibrillary tangles, are the basis for definitive pathological diagnosis of AD.

The major components of amyloid plaques are the amyloid Aβ-peptides, also called Aβ-peptides, which consist of three proteins having 40, 42 or 43 amino acids, designated as the Aβ₁₋₄₀, Aβ₁₋₄₂, and Aβ₁₋₄₃ peptides, respectively. The Aβ-peptides are thought to cause nerve cell destruction, in part, because they are toxic to neurons in vitro and in vivo.

The Aβ peptides are derived from larger amyloid precursor proteins (APP proteins), which consist of four proteins containing 695, 714, 751 or 771 amino acids, designated as the APP₆₉₅, APP₇₁₄, APP₇₅₁ and APP₇₇₁, respectively. Proteases are believed to produce the Aβ peptides by cleaving specific amino acid sequences within the various APP proteins. The proteases are named “secretases” because the Aβ-peptides they produce are secreted by cells into the extracellular environment. These secretases are each named according to the cleavage(s) they make to produce the Aβ-peptides. The secretase that forms the amino terminal end of the Aβ-peptides is called the beta-secretase. The secretase that forms the carboxyl terminal end of the Aβ-peptides is called the gamma-secretase (Haass, C. and Selkoe, D. J. 1993 Cell 75:1039–1042).

This invention relates to novel compounds that inhibit Aβ-peptide production, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and to methods of using such compounds to treat neuorodegenerative and/or neurological disorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula

wherein Z is selected from —C(═O)CHR¹R², —C(═S)CHR¹R², —(C═NR⁸)CHR¹R², —C(═O)C(═O)R¹ and —S(O)₂—R¹;

R¹ is selected from —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynoxy, —C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl, (C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkyl, (C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkenyl, (4–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₂₀ aryl and (5–20 membered) heteroaryl;

wherein R¹ is optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1a);

R^(1a) is in each instance independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₁₅ cycloalkenyl, —(C₅–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkyl, —(C₇–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkenyl, -(4–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, wherein said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or tricycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryloxy and heteroaryloxy are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b);

R^(1b) is in each instance independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₆ alkyl, —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group;

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are in each instance each independently selected from —H, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —CF₃, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C(═O)NR¹¹R¹², —S(O)_(n)—NR¹¹R¹², —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₈ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₅–C₁l)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄alkylene)-((C₇–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group, and wherein said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or tricycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, —C(═O)H and —C(═O)OH, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group;

or NR⁹R¹⁰ may in each instance independently optionally form a heterocycloalkyl moiety of from four to ten ring members, said heterocycloalkyl moiety optionally containing one to two further heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, and optionally containing from one to three double bonds, wherein the carbon atoms of the heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CF₃, —NH₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered heteroaryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ cycloalkyl) and (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl, and wherein the (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl) substituent and the nitrogen atoms of said heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are each optionally independently substituted with one substituent independently selected from —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ cycloalkyl) and (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), and wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms, or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group;

R¹¹ and R¹² are in each instance each independently selected from —C₁–C₁₅ alkyl (branched or straight chain), —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₈ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₅–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₇–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₅ aryl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heteroaryl);

wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from group R^(1b), and wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or trcycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —C(═O)NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —SO₂N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)H, —C(═O)OH and —C(═O)O(C₁–C₆ alkyl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group;

NR¹¹R¹² may in each instance independently optionally form a heterocycloalkyl moiety of from four to ten ring members, said heterocycloalkyl moiety optionally containing one to two further heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, and optionally containing from one to three double bonds, wherein the carbon atoms of said heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —C(═O)NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —SO₂N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)H, —C(═O)OH and —C(═O)O(C₁–C₆ alkyl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group;

R² is selected from —H, —OH, —NH₂, —CH₂OH, —OC(═O)CH₃, —C(CH₃)₂OH, —C(CH₃)(CH₂CH₃)(OH), —C(OH)(C_(zero)–C₄ alkyl)(C_(zero)–C₄ alkyl), —OC(═O)R⁴ and —OC(═O)OR⁴, wherein said —OC(═O)R⁴ and —OC(═O)OR⁴ may optionally be a prodrug of the corresponding OH of R²;

R⁴ is selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —CH(OH)(C₁–C₄ alkyl), —CH(OH)(C₅–C₆ aryl), —CH(OH)((5–6 membered) heteroaryl), —CH(OH)(C₅–C₆ cycloalkyl), —CH(OH)((5–6 membered) heterocycloalkyl);

R³ is selected from —C₁–C₆ alkyl, —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₆ cycloalkyl), wherein when R³ is alkyl, alkenyl, allyl, or alkynyl, R³ is optionally independently substituted with a substituent independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, —OH and —S(C₁–C₄ alkyl);

R⁵ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —C₂–C₄ alkenyl, —C₂–C₄ alkynyl, —C(═O)(C₁–C₄ alkyl), —C₆–C₁₀ aryl, -(5–20 membered) heteroaryl, —S(O)_(n)—(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)_(n)—((5–20 membered) heteroaryl), —S(O)_(n)—CH₂—(C₆–C₂₀ aryl) and —S(O)_(n)–CH₂—((5–20 membered) heteroaryl);

R⁶ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —C₂–C₄ alkenyl, —C₂–C₄ alkynyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —CF₃, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-C(═O)OR¹², —C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl and —C₆–C₁₀ aryl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and aryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b);

R⁷ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynoxy, F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —OH, —CF₃, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(C₃–C₂₀cycloalkyl), -(3–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —CHO, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((3–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₅ aryl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₁–C₁₅ alkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered)heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₅–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —C(═O)O(C₁–C₈ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl), C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₅–C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)-alkyl, —S(O)_(n)-cycloalkyl, —S(O)_(n)-(6 to 14 membered) aryl, —S(O)_(n)-(5 to 14 membered) heteroaryl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, wherein said heterocycloalkyl optionally contains from one to four double or triple bonds, wherein R⁷ is optionally substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1a);

or alternatively R⁷ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), -(3–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —CHO, —C(═O)(C₁–C₁₅ alkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered)heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₅–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —C(═O)O(C₁–C₈ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl), C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₅–C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)—alkyl, —S(O)_(n)-cycloalkyl, —S(O)_(n)-(6 to 14 membered) aryl, —S(O)_(n)-(5 to 14 membered) heteroaryl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —C₁–C₁₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenyl, —C₁–C₁₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₁₀ alkynoxy, —NR⁹R¹⁰, (C₁–C₁₁alkyl)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰—C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, -(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, (5–15 membered) heterocycloalkoxy, —C₆–C₁₂ aryloxy and (6–12 membered) heteroaryloxy;

or R⁶ and R⁷ may together with the carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached optionally form a five to fourteen membered cycloalkyl ring, a five to fourteen membered heterocycloalkyl ring, a ten to fourteen membered bicycloalkyl ring or a ten to fourteen membered bicycloheteroalkyl ring fused to the oxazole ring in the compound of Formula I, wherein from one to three members of said heterocycloalkyl ring or said bicycloheteroalkyl ring are selected from N, O and S, and wherein said cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl or bicylcoheteroalkyl ring optionally contains from one to three double bonds; and

R⁸ is selected from —H and —C₁–C₆ alkyl;

or, when Z is —C(═NR⁸)CHR¹R², R⁸ and R¹ may together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached optionally form a five to fourteen membered heteroaryl ring or a five to eight membered heterocycloalkyl ring, wherein said heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring optionally contains from one to two further heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, and wherein said heterocycloalkyl ring optionally contains from one to three double bonds, and wherein said heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring is optionally substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b);

n is in each instance an integer independently selected from 0, 1, and 2;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds.

Compounds of the Formula I may have optical centers and therefore may occur in different enantiomeric, diastereomeric and meso configurations. The present invention includes all enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomers of such compounds of the Formula I, as well as racemic and other mixtures thereof. The present invention also includes all tautomers of the Formula I. When the compounds of Formula I of the present invention contain one optical center, the “S” enantiomer is preferred.

Insofar as the compounds of Formula I of this invention contain basic groups, they can form acid addition salts with various inorganic and organic acids. The present invention also relates to the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of compounds of the Formula I. Although such salts must be pharmaceutically acceptable for administration to animals, it is often desirable in practice to initially isolate the base compound from the reaction mixture as a pharmaceutically unacceptable salt and then simply convert to the free base compound by treatment with an alkaline reagent, and thereafter, convert the free base to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt. The acid addition salts of the base compounds of this invention are readily prepared by treating the base compound with a substantially equivalent amount of the chosen mineral or organic acid in an aqueous solvent or in a suitable organic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol. Upon careful evaporation of the solvent, the desired solid salt is readily obtained. The acids which are used to prepare the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts of the aforementioned base compounds of this invention are those which form non-toxic acid addition salts, i.e., salts containing pharmaceutically acceptable anions, such as the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, trifluoroaectic acid, nitrate, sulfate or bisulfate, phosphate or acid phosphate, acetate, lactate, citrate or acid citrate, tartrate or bi-tartrate, succinate, maleate, fumarate, gluconate, saccharate, benzoate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate and pamoate (i.e., 1,1′-methylene-bis-(2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate))salts. Other examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention are the salts of salicylic acid, oxalic acid, di-p-toluoyl tartaric acid, mandelic acid, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and lithium.

The present invention also includes isotopically-labeled compounds that are identical to those recited in Formula I, but for the fact that one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number usually found in nature. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into the compounds of the present invention include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, fluorine, chlorine and iodine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹¹C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ¹⁸F, ¹²³I and ¹²⁵I, respectively. The compounds of Formula I of the present invention, prodrugs thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds or of such prodrugs, and compounds and derivatives of such compounds that contain the aforementioned isotopes and/or other isotopes are within the scope of this invention. Such compounds may be useful as research and diagnostic tools in metabolism pharmacokinetic studies and in binding assays. Certain isotopically-labeled compounds of the Formula I of the present invention, for example, those into which radioactive isotopes such as ³H and ¹⁴C are incorporated, are useful in drug and/or substrate tissue distribution assays. Tritiated, i.e., ³H, and carbon-14, i.e., ¹⁴C, isotopes are particularly preferred for their ease of preparation and detectability. Further, substitution with heavier isotopes such as deuterium, i.e., ²H, can afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements and, hence, may be preferred in some circumstances. Isotopically-labeled compounds of the Formula I of the present invention and prodrugs and derivatives thereof may generally be prepared by carrying out the procedures disclosed in the schemes and discussion of the schemes and/or in the examples and preparations described herein, by substituting a readily available isotopically-labeled reagent for a nonisotopically-labeled reagent in the preparation of said compounds.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the terms “halogen” and “halo” include F, Cl, Br and I.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkyl” includes saturated monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having straight or branched moieties. Examples of alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropylmethylene (—CH₂-cyclopropyl) and t-butyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkenyl” includes alkyl moieties having at least one carbon-carbon double bond wherein alkyl is as defined above. Examples of alkenyl include, but are not limited to, ethenyl and propenyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkynyl” includes alkyl moieties having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond wherein alkyl is as defined above. Examples of alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl and 2-propynyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkoxy”, means “alkyl-O—”, wherein “alkyl” is as defined above. Examples of “alkoxy” groups include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy and allyloxy.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkenoxy”, means “alkenyl-O—”, wherein “alkenyl” is as defined above.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “alkynoxy”, means “alkynyl-O—”, wherein “alkynyl” is as defined above.

In all of the above defined “C₁–C_(x) alkyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkenyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkynyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkoxy,” “C₁–C_(x) alkenoxy,” and “C₁–C_(x) alkynoxy,” groups, when x is an integer greater than 2, such “C₁–C_(x) alkyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkenyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkynyl,” “C₁–C_(x) alkoxy,” “C₁–C_(x) alkenoxy,” and “C₁–C_(x) alkynoxy,” groups, may optionally be replaced with a “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkyl,” “a polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkenyl,” a “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkynyl,” a “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkoxy,” a “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkenoxy,” or a “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkynoxy,” group. As used herein, the expression “polyfluoro C₁–C_(x) alkyl” refers to alkyl groups, as defined above, that comprise at least one —CF₂ and/or CF₃ group.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “cycloalkyl” includes non-aromatic saturated cyclic alkyl moieties wherein alkyl is as defined above. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl. “Bicycloalkyl” and “tricycloalkyl” groups are non-aromatic saturated cyclic alkyl moieties consisting of two or three rings, respectively, wherein said rings share at least one carbon atom. For purposes of the present invention, and unless otherwise indicated, bicycloalkyl groups include spiro groups and fused ring groups. Examples of bicycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, bicyclo-[3.1.0]-hexyl, bicyclo-[2.2.1]-hept-1-yl, norbornyl, spiro[4.5]decyl, spiro[4.4]nonyl, spiro[4.3]octyl, and spiro[4.2]heptyl. An example of a tricycloalkyl group is adamantanyl. Other cycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl, and tricycloalkyl groups are known in the art, and such groups are encompassed by the definitions “cycloalkyl”, “bicycloalkyl” and “tricycloalkyl” herein. “Cycloalkenyl”, “bicycloalkenyl” and “tricycloalkenyl” refer, respectively, to non-aromatic cycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl and tricycloalkyl moieties, respectively, as defined above, except that they each include one or more carbon-carbon double bonds connecting carbon ring members (an “endocyclic” double bond) and/or one or more carbon-carbon double bonds connecting a carbon ring member and an adjacent non-ring carbon (an “exocyclic” double bond). Examples of cycloalkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopentenyl, cyclobutenyl, and cyclohexenyl. A non-limiting example of a bicycloalkenyl group is norbornenyl. Cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkyl, and bicycloalkenyl groups also include groups that are substituted with one or more oxo moieties. Examples of such groups with oxo moieties are oxocyclopentyl, oxocyclobutyl, oxocyclopentenyl and norcamphoryl. Other cycloalkenyl, bicycloalkenyl, and tricycloalkenyl groups are known in the art, and such groups are included within the definitions “cycloalkenyl”, “bicycloalkenyl” and “tricycloalkenyl” herein.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “aryl” includes an organic radical derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by removal of one hydrogen, such as phenyl (Ph), naphthyl, indenyl, indanyl and fluorenyl. “Aryl” encompasses fused ring groups wherein at least one ring is aromatic.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the terms “heterocyclic” and “heterocycloalkyl” refer to non-aromatic cyclic groups containing one or more heteroatoms, preferably from one to four heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, S and N. “Heterobicycloalkyl” groups are non-aromatic two-ringed cyclic groups, wherein said rings share one or two atoms, and wherein at least one of the rings contains a heteroatom (O, S, or N). Unless otherwise indicated, for purposes of the present invention, heterobicycloalkyl groups include spiro groups and fused ring groups. In one embodiment, each ring in the heterobicycloalkyl group contains up to four heteroatoms (i.e. from zero to four heteroatoms, provided that at least one ring contains at least one heteroatom). The heterocyclic groups of this invention can also include ring systems substituted with one or more oxo moieties. Examples of non-aromatic heterocyclic groups are aziridinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, azepinyl, piperazinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, morpholino, thiomorpholino, thioxanyl, pyrrolinyl, indolinyl, 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, dioxanyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl, pyrazolinyl, dihydropyranyl, dihydrothienyl, dihydrofuranyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanyl, quinolizinyl, quinuclidinyl, 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decyl, 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonyl, 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.3]octyl, and 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.2]heptyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, “heteroaryl” refers to aromatic groups containing one or more heteroatoms, preferably from one to four heteroatoms, selected from O, S and N. A multicyclic group containing one or more heteroatoms wherein at least one ring of the group is aromatic is a “heteroaryl” group. The heteroaryl groups of this invention can also include ring systems substituted with one or more oxo moieties. Examples of heteroaryl groups are pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, imidazolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, pyrazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroguinolyl, tetrazolyl, furyl, thienyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, cinnolinyl, indazolyl, indolizinyl, phthalazinyl, triazinyl, 1,2,4-trizainyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, isoindolyl, 1-oxoisoindolyl, purinyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, furazanyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiophenyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, quinazolinyl, quinoxalinyl, naphthyridinyl, dihydroquinolyl, tetrahydroquinolyl, dihydroisoquinolyl, tetrahydroisoquinolyl, benzofuryl, furopyridinyl, pyrolopyrimidinyl, and azaindolyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “cycloalkoxy”, means “cycloalkyl-O—”, wherein “cycloalkyl” is as defined above.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “aryloxy”, means “aryl-O—”, wherein “aryl” is as defined above.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “heterocycloalkoxy”, means “heterocycloalkyl-O—”, wherein “heterocycloalkyl” is as defined above.

Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, the term “heteroaryloxy”, means “heteroaryl-O—”, wherein “heteroaryl” is as defined above.

The foregoing groups, as derived from the compounds listed above, may be C-attached or N-attached where such is possible. For instance, a group derived from pyrrole may be pyrrol-1-yl (N-attached) or pyrrol-3-yl (C-attached). The terms referring to the groups also encompass all possible tautomers.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I, wherein the stereochemistry of the R³ substituent is as shown in formula I-A below.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of Formulas I and IA, wherein Z is —C(═O)CHR¹R, R¹ is —H, —OH, or OC(═O)CH₃.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formulas I and IA, wherein Z is —C(═O)C(═O)R¹.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formulas I and IA, wherein Z is —SO₂R¹.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R¹ is selected from —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynyl, —C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl, (4–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₂₀ aryl and (5–20 membered) heteroaryl.

In another aspect, R¹ is selected from —C₁–C₁₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenyl, —C₃–C₁₀ cycloalkyl, phenyl, thienyl, and pyridyl, wherein R¹ is optionally independently substituted with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —CF₃, —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, phenyl and phenoxy, wherein R¹ optionally contains one or two double or triple bonds.

In another aspect, R¹ is —C₃–C₇ cycloalkyl, e.g., [2.2.1]-heptanyl.

In another aspect, R¹ is selected from phenyl and pyridyl, wherein R¹ is optionally independently substituted with from one to two substituents independently selected from —F, —Cl and —CF₃.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R² is selected from —H, —OH, —NH₂ and —OC(═O)CH₃.

In another aspect, R² is selected from —H and —OH.

In another aspect, R² is selected from —OC(═O)CH₃.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R³ is selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, allyl, and —CH₂CH₂SCH₃.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R⁵ is H.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R⁶ is selected from —H, CH₃, —F, —Cl, —Br —CF₃, and —C(═O)R¹¹.

In another aspect, R⁶ is —H.

In another aspect, R⁶ is —CH₃.

In another aspect, R¹ is —F.

In another aspect, R⁶ is —CF₃.

In another aspect, R⁷ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —OH, —CF₃, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —CHO, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((3–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₅ aryl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), wherein said heterocycloalkyl optionally contains from one to four double or triple bonds wherein R⁷ is optionally substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1a).

Specific embodiments of the present invention include the following compounds of Formula I, all pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, complexes thereof, and derivatives thereof that convert into a pharmaceutically active compound upon administration:

-   2-{2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic     acid ethyl ester; -   2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-4-methyl-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(4-fluoro-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(3-bromo-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic acid     (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(1-isobutylamino-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-hydroxymethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-(2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoylamino)-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic     acid methyl ester; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide hydrogen     chloride; -   2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-propanoic acid     [4-(phenyl)-5-(ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-carboxylic     acid ethyl ester -oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [5-(2-hyroxypropyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-(carboxy)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     {5-(phenyl)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; and -   2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid     [(5-carboxylic acid ethyl     ester-5-trifluoromethyl)oxazol-2-yl]-amide.

Compounds of the Formula I of this invention, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, have useful pharmaceutical and medicinal properties. The compounds of Formula I, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts inhibit the production of Aβ-peptide (thus, gamma-secretase activity) in mammals, including humans. Compounds of the Formula I, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are therefore able to function as therapeutic agents in the treatment of the neurodegenerative and/or neurological disorders and diseases enumerated below, for example Alzheimer's disease, in an afflicted mammal, including a human.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting or modulating Aβ-peptide production in a mammal, including a human, comprising an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-production, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-peptide production, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-peptide production, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or a condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in treating such disease or condition, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or a condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in treating such disease or condition, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting Aβ-peptide production in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-production.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-production.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in inhibiting Aβ-production.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in treating such condition.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that is effective in treating such condition.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or condition associated with Aβ-peptide production in a mammal, including a human, comprising (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome, in a mammal, including a human, comprising (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome, in a mammal, including a human, comprising (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition associated with Aβ-peptide production in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a prion-mediated disease, inclusion body myositis, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Down's Syndrome, in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease and Down's Syndrome, in a mammal, including a human, comprising administering to said mammal (a) a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent or anti-hypertensive agent; wherein the active agents “a” and “b” above are present in amounts that render the composition effective in treating such disease or condition.

Compounds of the Formula I may be used alone or used as a combination with any other drug, including, but not limited to, any memory enhancement agent, e.g., Aricept™, antidepressant agent, e.g., Zoloft™, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, e.g., Geodon™, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, e.g., Celebrex™, Bextra™, etc., anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent (for example, an agent that lowers LDL or increases HDL), e.g., Lipitor™, or anti-hypertension agent. Accordingly, this invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a mammal, including a human, in need thereof comprising an effective amount of a compound of the Formula I and an effective amount of another drug, for example a memory enhancement agent, e.g., Aricept™, antidepressant agent, e.g., Zoloft™, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, e.g., Geodon™, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, e.g., Celebrex™, Bextra™, etc., anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent (for example, an agent that lowers LDL or increases HDL), e.g., Lipitor™, or anti-hypertension agent, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention also provides a method for treating dementia, for example Alzheimer's disease, in a mammal, including in a human, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a compound of the Formula I and an effective amount of another drug, for example a memory enhancement agent, e.g., Aricept™, antidepressant agent, e.g., Zoloft™, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, e.g., Geodon™, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, e.g., Celebrex™, Bextra™, etc., anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent (for example, an agent that lowers LDL or increases HDL), e.g., Lipitor™, or anti-hypertension agent.

Compounds of the Formula I, or any of the combinations described in the immediately preceding paragraph, may optionally be used in conjunction with a know P-glycoprotein inhibitor, such as verapamil.

References herein to diseases and conditions “associated with Aβ-peptide production” relate to diseases or conditions that are caused, at least in part, by Aβ-peptide and/or the production thereof. Thus, Aβ-peptide is a contributing factor, but not necessarily the only contributing factor, to “a disease or condition associated with Aβ-peptide production.”

As used herein, the term “treating” refers to reversing, alleviating or inhibiting the progress of a disease, disorder or condition, or one or more symptoms of such disease, disorder or condition, to which such term applies. As used herein, “treating” may also refer to decreasing the probability or incidence of the occurrence of a disease, disorder or condition in a mammal as compared to an untreated control population, or as compared to the same mammal prior to treatment. For example, as used herein, “treating” may refer to preventing a disease, disorder or condition, and may include delaying or preventing the onset of a disease, disorder or condition, or delaying or preventing the symptoms associated with a disease, disorder or condition. As used herein, “treating” may also refer to reducing the severity of a disease, disorder or condition or symptoms associated with such disease, disorder or condition prior to a mammal's affliction with the disease, disorder or condition. Such prevention or reduction of the severity of a disease, disorder or condition prior to affliction relates to the administration of the composition of the present invention, as described herein, to a subject that is not at the time of administration afflicted with the disease, disorder or condition. As used herein “treating” may also refer to preventing the recurrence of a disease, disorder or condition or of one or more symptoms associated with such disease, disorder or condition. The terms “treatment” and “therapeutically,” as used herein, refer to the act of treating, as “treating” is defined above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Compounds of the Formula I, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, may be prepared as described in the following reaction Schemes and discussion. Unless otherwise indicated, as referred to in the reaction schemes and discussion that follow, R¹, R^(1a), R^(1b), R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹² and Z are as defined above.

The compounds of Formula I may have asymmetric carbon atoms and may therefore exist as racemic mixtures, diastereoisomers, geometric isomers, or as individual optical isomers.

Separation of a mixture of isomers of compounds of Formula I into single isomers may be accomplished according to conventional methods known in the art.

The compounds of the Formula I may be prepared by the methods described below, together with synthetic methods known in the art of organic chemistry, or modifications and derivatizations that are familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. Preferred methods include, but are not limited to, those described below.

The reactions described below are performed in solvents that are appropriate to the reagents and materials employed and that are suitable for use in the reactions described. In the description of the synthetic methods described below, it is also to be understood that all reaction conditions, whether actual or proposed, including choice of solvent, reaction temperature, reaction duration time, reaction pressure, and other reaction conditions (such as anhydrous conditions, under argon, under nitrogen, etc.), and work up procedures, are those conditions that are standard for that reaction, as would be readily recognized by one of skill in the art. Alternate methods may also be used.

Scheme I refers to a method of preparation of compounds of the Formula I, 10. An aminooxazole 1 is coupled with a nitrogen-protected amino acid 2a–c using conventional coupling reagents and procedures. The nitrogen protecting group may be a carbamate-type such as butoxycarbonyl (“BOC”, Y=tert-butyl) or benzyloxycarbonyl (“CBZ”, Y=benzyl) that is prepared with either di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (Aldrich Chemical Company, Milwaukee, Wis.), or benzyl chloroformate (Aldrich) in the presence of either an inorganic or organic base (e.g., sodium carbonate or triethylamine) at 0 to 30° C. in an organic solvent (e.g., methylene chloride) or in a mixture of water and an organic solvent (e.g., ethyl acetate) (Scheme II) (see, Muller, Methoden Der Organischen Chemie, “Vierte Auglage-Synthesis von Peptiden I”-Houben Weyl-Georg-Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, 1974, Band XV/1).

The amino-oxazoles 1 starting reagents may be prepared according to the procedure known in literature (references: Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.; 12; 10; 2002; 1379–1382; Yakugaku Zasshi; 91; 1971, 425, 429, 430, 485, 487; Chem. Abstr. 75; 35848, 48692, 1971; Chem. Abstr., 79; 146503; Tetrahedron Lett., 25; 28; 1984; 2957–2960; Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem.; 596; 1955; 1, 117; J. Chem. Soc., 1934, 1186, 1190; Chem. Ber., 99, 1966, 2110, 2117; Zh. Obshch. Khim., 29; 1959, 2330, 2336; engl. Ausg. S. 2294, 2299; J. Org. Chem. USSR (Engl. Transl.), 19, 1983, 818–820; J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 75; 1953, 2770; J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1, 1978; 249–252; Arch. Pharm. (Weinheim Ger.), 286, 1953, 494, 499; J. Org. Chem., 49, 3 1984, 566–570.) For example, compounds of formula 1 can be obtained by reacting a compound of formula VII, wherein L¹ is a leaving group such as a bromine, chlorine or iodine, with urea in a suitable solvent or a mixture of solvents, such as C₁–C₄ alcohol, THF, 1,4-dioxane, toluene, water, methylene chloride, or chloroform, at a suitable temperature, such as from about 0° C. to about reflux.

Numerous reagents that are well-known in the art may be used to couple 1 and 2a–c to form 3 by standard peptide coupling methods (2a) or the trimethylaluminum coupling method (2b) or a leaving group (halogen or a mixed anhydride)(2c) known in art of organic chemistry (Scheme I). Activation of the carboxylic acid 2a with oxalyl halide, thionyl chloride, carbodiimidazole, or chloro-(C₁–C₄)alkyl-formate, in the presence of an appropriate base (e.g., trialkylamine, pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine or sodium carbonate, or the like) or carbodiimides with or without the use of known additives such as N-hydroxysuccinimide, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole, etc. can be used to facilitate coupling. Standard coupling agents include HATU (O-(7-azabenzotriazole-1yl)-1,1,3,3,-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate) or PyBOP (benzotriazole-1-yl)-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate) or HBTU (O-benzotriazole-1yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate)/trialkylamine, or 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT)/1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC)/trialkylamine (NEt3), in an appropriate solvent such as methylene chloride, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetonitrile, dimethylformamide (DMF), and the like or a mixture of two solvents to have reagents mixed well to form a clear solution. Peptide coupling agents or resins for solid phase synthesis such as Fmoc (Fluorenylmethylcarbonyl)-protected hydroxylamine bound to polystylene beads are common and well known in the literature. Deprotection of the Fmoc group under standard conditions using 20% piperidine in DMF. References :O-benzotriazol-1-yl-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (“HBTU”, Aldrich Chemical Company) and O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (“HATU”, Aldrich) (See, Fieser, Reagents for Organic Synthesis, 1986, Wiley Interscience, New York, Vol. 12, p. 44; Hruby, Biorganic Chemistry: Peptides and Proteins, 1998, Oxford University press, New York, pp. 27–64; Muller, Methoden Der Organischen Chemie, Vierte Auflage—Synthese von Peptiden II—Houben Weyl, George-Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, 1974, Band XV/2). When optically active reagents are employed, reaction conditions, such as temperature, time and the selection of the base, must be carefully controlled to avoid racemization. The protected amino group or carboxylic acid group may be prepared by methods well known in the literature for amino acid protecting groups as described in Organic chemistry Journal, textbook such as “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” by T. W. Green. Alternatively, the coupling can be performed by reacting 1 with the ester 2b in the presence of trialkylaluminum in an appropriate solvent, e.g., THF, dioxane, toluene or a mixture of THF/toluene in an open or sealed tube at a temperature between 0° C.–120° C. until the complete conversion to the desired product (3 in Scheme I); preferred temperature is room temperature to 80° C.

Intermediate 3 of Scheme I, is deprotected to afford aminoamide 4 either through treatment with strong acid in the case of t-butoxycarbonyl or through hydrogenolysis in the case of carbobenzyloxycarbonyl. Specifically, t-BOC-3, on treatment with hydrochloric acid or trifluoroacetic acid in an organic solvent (e.g., dioxane, THF, or methylene chloride), at room temperature to 30° C. for about 1 hour to about 19 hours, affords the corresponding salts 4. Alternatively, CBZ-3 may be deprotected through catalytic hydrogenolysis in the presence of hydrogen (from about 1 to about 10 atmospheres), a heavy metal catalyst (e.g., palladium on carbon or palladium hydroxide on carbon, 1 to 10 percent catalyst loading, present at about 0.01 to about 0.50 times the of substrate), and a solvent (e.g., methanol, ethanol or ethyl acetate) at 20 to 50° C. for about 1 hour to about 19 hours.

The compound Formula I 10 in Scheme I may be prepared by the reaction of 4 with 9 where L is a leaving group (e.g., halide, mesylate, or triflate) and Z is as defined above. The reaction is carried out at 0 to 30° C. in an organic solvent (e.g., methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, or DMF) in the presence of an organic base (e.g., triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, or N-methylmorpholine) for about 1 minute to about 24 hours.

Alternatively, the compound Formula I 10 may be prepared according to the procedure of Scheme II (Z-L is a carboxylic acid or L is a leaving group), employing the general conditions described for Scheme I. In Scheme II, R can be alkyl or benzyl. The coupling of 9 and 11 in Scheme II may be performed at a temperature of about 0 to 30° C. in an organic solvent (e.g., methylene chloride, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, or DMF) in the presence of a base (e.g., triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine). When R is alkyl, either acidic or basic hydrolysis may be used to covert 12 to 13. If R is benzyl, catalytic hydrogenolysis may also be used to prepare 13.

The above amide bond formation may be achieved by coupling the ester (12 in Scheme II) with 2 in the presence of trialkylaluminum (e.g., AlMe3) in an appropriate solvent, e.g., THF, toluene or a mixture of THF/toluene, or similar like solvents in an open or sealed tube at a temperature of about 0° C.–110° C. until there is complete conversion to the desired product (10 in Scheme II). Preferably, the temperature is about room temperature to about 80° C.

The ester group of R⁷ may be converted to the corresponding amide using a similar method for amide bond formation, preferably employing trimethylaluminum in an appropriate solvent or a mixture of solvents, such as THF/toluene to the corresponding amide.

The keto group of R⁷ may be converted to the corresponding amine using a well-established reductive amination method by reacting a ketone with an appropriate amine with or without acid catalyst or Lewis acid catalyst (Ti(iPrO)₄, ZnCl₂, NiCl₂, /sodium acetate/dry agents (such as activated molecular sieves 4A, anhydrous Na₂SO₄ or MgSO₄), and a reducing agent such as sodium triacetoxy borohydride, sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium borohydride, Zn(BH₄)₂, Bu3SnH, Bu2SnCIH, Bu2SnIH, decaborane, silica gel-Zn(BH4)2, Et3SiH-trifluoroacetic acid, pyridine-BH3, phenylsilane-dibutyltin dichloride, or the corresponding polymer bound-NaBH₄, polymer bound-NaBH₃CN, polymer bound-NaB(OAc)₃H, or any reducing agent (e.g., hydrogenation, Pd(OAc)₂/potassium formate, Pd/C/H₂) that is known in the literature for reducing the amine bond to the corresponding amine in an appropriate solvent, such as dichloroethane, chloroform, 2-methoxyethyl ether, dichloroethane, DMF, THF, MeOH, ethanol, about iso-propanol, t-butanol or toluene, at a temperature between room temperature to reflux, preferably at about room temperature to about 65° C.

R⁶ of halo group may be generated by reacting the starting material wherein R⁶ is H with NBS, NCS, or SO₂Cl₂, I₂ in an appropriate solvent such as methylene chloride, or chloroform. The halo group may be replaced with another group using methods known in the art of organic chemistry, such as halogen-metal exchange, followed by quenching with an electrophile, or using typical Suzuki coupling conditions employing a catalyst such as palladium complex like tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium with sodium carbonate as a base in a suitable solvent such as THF, DME, ethanol and a boronic acid.

The starting materials used in the procedures of the above Schemes, the syntheses of which are not described above, are either commercially available, known in the art or readily obtainable from known compounds using methods that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the compounds described hereinabove, it is preferred that the carbon attached to the R³ is in the S-configuration. This embodiment is prepared from starting material in which the carbon atom attached to the R³ substituent is in the S configuration. The stereochemistry is derived from the utilization of the L-amino acid. Since during the synthesis, no substitution occurs at this asymmetric carbon, the stereochemical configuration is maintained throughout the synthesis to the final product.

The compounds of Formula I, and the intermediates shown in the above reaction schemes, may be isolated and purified by conventional procedures, such as recrystallization or chromatographic separation, such as on silica gel, either with an ethyl acetate/hexane elution gradient, a methylene chloride/methanol elution gradient, or a chloroform/methanol elution gradient. Alternatively, a reverse phase preparative HPLC or chiral HPLC separation technique may be used.

In each of the reactions discussed or illustrated above, pressure is not critical unless otherwise indicated. Pressures from about 0.5 atmospheres to about 5 atmospheres are generally acceptable, and ambient pressure, i.e., about 1 atmosphere, is preferred as a matter of convenience.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of Formula I may be prepared in a conventional manner by treating a solution or suspension of the corresponding free base or acid with one chemical equivalent of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base. Conventional concentration or crystallization techniques may be employed to isolate the salts. Suitable acids, include, but are not limited to, acetic, lactic, succinic, maleic, tartaric, citric, gluconic, ascorbic, benzoic, cinnamic, fumaric, sulfuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, sulfamic, sulfonic acids such as methanesulfonic, benzene sulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic and related acids. Suitable bases include, but are not limited to, sodium, potassium and calcium.

A compound of the Formula I of the present invention may be administered to mammals via either the oral, parenteral (such as subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal and infusion techniques), rectal, intranasal, topical or transdermal (e.g., through the use of a patch) routes. In general, these compounds are most desirably administered in doses ranging from about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg per day, in single or divided doses (i.e., from 1 to 4 doses per day), although variations will necessarily occur depending upon the species, weight, age and condition of the subject being treated, as well as the particular route of administration chosen. However, a dosage level that is in the range of about 0.1 mg/kg to about 5 gm/kg body weight per day, preferably from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 100 mg/kg body weight per day, is most desirably employed. Nevertheless, variations may occur depending upon the species of animal being treated and its individual response to said medicament, as well as on the type of pharmaceutical formulation chosen and the time period and interval at which such administration is carried out. In some instances, dosage levels below the lower limit of the aforesaid range may be more than adequate, while in other cases still larger doses may be employed without causing any harmful side effects, provided that such higher dosage levels are first divided into several small doses for administration throughout the day.

A compound of the Formula I of the present invention may be administered alone or in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents by either of the routes previously indicated, and such administration may be carried out in single or multiple doses. Suitable pharmaceutical carriers include solid diluents or fillers, sterile aqueous media and various non-toxic organic solvents, etc. The pharmaceutical compositions formed by combining a compound of the Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier, can then be readily administered in a variety of dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, lozenges, troches, hard candies, powders, sprays, creams, salves, suppositories, jellies, gels, pastes, lotions, ointments, aqueous suspensions, injectable solutions, elixirs, syrups, and the like. Moreover, oral pharmaceutical compositions may be suitably sweetened and/or flavored.

For oral administration, tablets containing various excipients such as microcrystalline cellulose, sodium citrate, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate and glycine may be employed along with various disintegrants such as starch (preferably corn, potato or tapioca starch), methylcellulose, alginic acid and certain complex silicates, together with granulation binders such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, sucrose, gelatin and acacia. Additionally, lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate and talc are often useful for tabletting purposes. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in gelatin capsules. Preferred materials in this connection include lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols. When aqueous suspensions and/or elixirs are desired for oral administration, the active ingredient may be combined with various sweetening or flavoring agents, coloring matter or dyes, and, if so desired, emulsifying and/or suspending agents as well, together with such diluents as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and various like combinations thereof.

For parenteral administration, solutions containing a compound of the Formula I of the present invention in either sesame or peanut oil or in aqueous propylene glycol may be employed. The aqueous solutions should be suitably buffered (preferably pH greater than 8) if necessary and the liquid diluent first rendered isotonic with sufficient saline or glucose. These aqueous solutions are suitable for intravenous injection purposes. The oily solutions are suitable for intraarticular, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection purposes. The preparation of all these solutions under sterile conditions is readily accomplished by standard pharmaceutical techniques well known to those skilled in the art.

The compounds of Formula I of the present invention are useful in inhibiting Aβ-peptide production (thus, gamma-secretase activity) in mammals, and therefore they are able to function as therapeutic agents in the treatment of the aforementioned disorders and diseases in an afflicted mammal.

The ability of compounds of the Formula I of this invention, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, to inhibit Aβ-peptide production (thus, gamma-secretase activity) may be determined using biological assays known to those of ordinary skill in the art, for example the assays described below.

The activity of compounds of the Formula I of the present invention in inhibiting gamma-secretase activity was determined in a solubilized membrane preparation generally according to the description provided in McLendon et al. Cell-free assays for γ-secretase activity, The FASEB Journal (Vol. 14, December 2000, pp. 2383–2386). Using such assay, compounds of the present invention were determined to have an IC₅₀ activity for inhibiting gamma-secretase activity of less than about 100 micromolar.

The following Examples illustrate the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention, as fully described herein and as recited in the claims, is not intended to be limited by the details of the following Examples.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Example 1 2-{2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-butyrylamino-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole}-5-carboxylic Acid Ethyl Ester

A mixture of a 2-[2-(3,5-difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-butyric acid (54 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2-amino-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (45 mg, 0.2 mmol.), HBOT (32 mg, 0.24 mmol), EDC.HCl (58 mg, 0.3 mmol) and a trimethylamine (0.11 ml, 0.8 mmol) in methylene chloride was stirred at room temperature until disappearance of starting material. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic layer was washed with dilute HCl, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed at reduced pressure to provide the title compound. 1H NMR (CD₃OD) d 6.9 (m, 2H), 6.8(m,1H), 4.4(m,1H), 4.4(q,2H), 3.6(s,2H), 1.9(m,1H), 1.8(m,1 H), 1.35(t,3H), 1.0(t, 3H) ppm. M+1=463.36.

Example 2 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

A mixture of 2-[2-(3-phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (65 mg, 0.2 mmol), (2-Amino-oxazol-5-yl)-phenyl-methanone (38 mg, 0.2 mmol.), HBOT (32 mg, 0.24 mmol), EDC. HCl (58 mg, 0.3 mmol) and a trimethylamine (0.11 ml, 0.8 mmol) in methylene chloride was stirred at room temperature until disappearance of starting material. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic layer was washed with dilute HCl, brine, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed at reduced pressure to provide the title compound, LC-MS M+1=498.5.

The following examples were prepared by the method analogous to that in example 1 or 2 starting with an appropriate acid and an appropriate 2-amino-oxazole.

Example 3 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

M+1=436.5.

Example 4 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

M+1=470.5.

Example 5 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (4.5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

M+1=422.5.

Example 6 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

M+1=504.4.

Example 7 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-4-methyl-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

M+1=458.6.

Example 8 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

M+1=380.2.

Example 9 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(4-fluoro-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

M+1=460.1.

Example 10 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(3-bromo-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

M+1=521.9.

Example 11 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide Example 12 2-[2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoylamino-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic Acid Methyl Ester

M+1=464.1

Example 13 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-hydroxymethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

A mixture of 2-{2-[2-(3,5-difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoylamino}-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (150 mg, 0.31 mmol) and sodium borohydride (150 mg, 3.947 mmol) in 3 ml methanol was stirred at room temperature for 10 min. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried and concentrated and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC to give the title compound as a white solid. APCl M+1=436.1.

Example 14 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

To a solution of 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide (130 mg, 0.34 mmol) in a mixture of MeOH (5 ml) and THF (5 mL) was added NaBH4 (130 mg, 3.9 mmol) at room temperature. After stirring for 10 min, the mixture was concentrated to a small volume, quenched with water and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic layer was separated, dried and concentrated to give 131 mg of the title compound as a colorless oil. LC-MS, RT=1.7 min, M+1=382.2, M−1=380.2.

Example 15 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide Hydrogen Chloride

To a mixture of 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide (100 mg, 0.26 mmol), isoamylamine (0.2 ml), NaOAc, Na2SO4, AcOH(0.1 ml) in methylene chloride was stirred at room temperature for 2 hr. NaBH3CN (80 mg, 3.4 mmol) was added. The mixture was heated at 40–45° C. until all starting material was consumed and product was formed. The mixture was quenched with dilute NaOH, extracted with methylene chloride, then extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ (anhydrous), filtered, and concentrated to give 120 mg of the title compound. The crude material was purified by silica gel column chromatography using 1% to 5% MeOH in methylene chloride as eluent to give the desired product that was prepared to the corresponding HCl salt with HCl in dioxane. The salt was titrated with hexane to give the title compound as a white solid. LC-MS, RT=1.3 min, M−1=449.2.

The following examples were prepared by methods analogous to those described in Example 15 above, starting with an appropriate ketone and an appropriate amine.

Example 16 2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic Acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide

M+1=340.4, M−1=338.4.

Example 17 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide

M+1=465.5, M−1=463.5.

Example 18 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid {5-[1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide

M+1=463.4, M−1=461.4.

Example 19 2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic Acid {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide

M+1=425.6, M−1=423.5.

Example 20 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid {5-(1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide

M+1=451.5, M−1=449.5.

Example 21 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(1-isobutylamino-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide

M−1=435.5.

Preparation of Intermediate 2-[2-(3-phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid

A mixture of (3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetic acid (10.00 g, 0.0438 mol), 2-amino-pentanoic acid methyl ester (7.34 g, 0.0438 mol.), HBOT (6.20 g, 0.046 mol), EDC. HCl (12.59 g, 0.067 mol) and a trimethylamine (30.45 ml, 0.22 mol) in methylene chloride (150 ml) was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic layer was washed with 1N HCl, then brine, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed at reduced pressure to provide 13.99 g of (3-phenoxy-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester as a thick oil, LC-MS M+1=342.

A mixture of (3-phenoxy-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (7 g, 0.0205 mol) and 1N NaOH (61.5 ml, 0.0651 mol) in 120 ml of methanol was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was concentrated to a low volume and the residue was diluted with HCl to pH around 3.4 and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried over MgSO4, filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness to give 5.86 g of 2-[2-(3-phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid as a white solid, LC-MS M+1=328.

Example 22 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide Example 23 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide Example 23 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide Example 24 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-propanoic Acid [4-(phenyl)-5-(ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide Example 25 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-carboxylic Acid Ethyl Ester-oxazol-2-yl]-amide Example 26 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [5-(2-hyroxypropyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide Example 27 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid {5-(carboxy)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide Example 28 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid {5-(phenyl)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide Example 29 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic Acid [(5-carboxylic Acid Ethyl ester-5-trifluoromethyl)oxazol-2-yl]-amide

The activity of the compounds described in examples 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 in inhibiting gamma-secretase activity was determined in a solubilized membrane preparation generally according to the description provided in McLendon et al. Cell-free assays for γ-secretase activity, The FASEB Journal (Vol. 14, December 2000, pp. 2383–2386). At least 65% exhibited IC₅₀ values less than 1000 nM. A subgroup of these compounds exhibited preferable IC₅₀ values of less than 300 nM. A further subgroup of these compounds exhibited more preferable IC₅₀ values of less than 100 nM. A still further subgroup of these compounds exhibited most preferable IC₅₀ values of less than 20 nM. 

1. Compounds of the formula

wherein Z is selected from —C(═O)CHR¹R², —C(═S)CHR¹R², —(C═NR⁸)CHR¹R², —C(═O)C(═O)R¹ and —S(O)₂—R¹; R¹ is selected from —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynoxy, —C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl, (C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkyl, (C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkenyl, (4–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₂₀ aryl and (5–20 membered) heteroaryl; wherein R¹ is optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1a); R^(1a) is in each instance independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₁₅ cycloalkenyl, —(C₅–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkyl, —(C₇–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkenyl, -(4–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, wherein said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or tricycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryloxy and heteroaryloxy are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b); R^(1b) is in each instance independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₆ alkyl, —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are in each instance each independently selected from —H, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —CF₃, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C(═O)NR¹¹R¹², —S(O)_(n)—NR¹¹R¹², —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₈ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₅–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₇–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group, and wherein said cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or tricycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, —C(═O)H and —C(═O)OH, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group; or NR⁹R¹⁰ may in each instance independently optionally form a heterocycloalkyl moiety of from four to ten ring members, said heterocycloalkyl moiety optionally containing one to two further heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, and optionally containing from one to three double bonds, wherein the carbon atoms of the heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CF₃, —NH₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered heteroaryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ cycloalkyl) and (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl, and wherein the (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl) substituent and the nitrogen atoms of said heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are each optionally independently substituted with one substituent independently selected from —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C(═O)NH₂, —S(O)_(n)—NH₂, C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₀ cycloalkyl) and (C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), and wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms, or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group; R¹¹ and R¹² are in each instance each independently selected from —C₁–C₁₅ alkyl (branched or straight chain), —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₈ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₅–C₁₁)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₇–C₁l)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₅ aryl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heteroaryl); wherein R¹¹ and R¹² are each optionally independently substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from group R^(1b), and wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, bi- or tricycloalkyl, bi- or tricycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —C(═O)NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C₆–C₁₅ aryloxy and -(5–15 membered) heteroaryloxy, —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —SO₂N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)H, —C(═O)OH and —C(═O)O(C₁–C₆ alkyl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group; NR¹¹R¹² may in each instance independently optionally form a heterocycloalkyl moiety of from four to ten ring members, said heterocycloalkyl moiety optionally containing one to two further heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, and optionally containing from one to three double bonds, wherein the carbon atoms of said heterocycloalkyl moiety of NR⁹R¹⁰ are optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —OH, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy, —C₁–C₆ hydroxyalkyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —CF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)NH₂, —C(═O)NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —SO₂N(C₁–C₆ alkyl)₂, —C(═O)H, —C(═O)OH and —C(═O)O(C₁–C₆ alkyl), wherein said alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl substituents are each optionally independently further substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, or with a hydroxy group; R² is selected from —H, —OH, —NH₂, —CH₂OH, —OC(═O)CH₃, —C(CH₃)₂OH, —C(CH₃)(CH₂CH₃)(OH), —C(OH)(C_(zero)–C₄ alkyl)(C_(zero)–C₄ alkyl), —OC(═O)R⁴ and —OC(═O)OR⁴, wherein said —OC(═O)R⁴ and —OC(═O)OR⁴ may optionally be a prodrug of the corresponding OH of R²; R⁴ is selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —CH(OH)(C₁–C₄ alkyl), —CH(OH)(C₅–C₆ aryl), —CH(OH)((5–6 membered) heteroaryl), —CH(OH)(C₅–C₆ membered cycloalkyl), —CH(OH)((5–6 membered) heterocycloalkyl); R³ is selected from —C₁–C₆ alkyl, —C₂–C₆ alkenyl, —C₂–C₆ alkynyl and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₆ cycloalkyl), wherein when R³ is alkyl, alkenyl, allyl, or alkynyl, R³ is optionally independently substituted with a substituent independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, —OH and —S(C₁–C₄ alkyl); R⁵ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —C₂–C₄ alkenyl, —C₂–C₄ alkynyl, —C(═O)(C₁–C₄ alkyl), —C₆–C₁₀ aryl, -(5–20 membered) heteroaryl, —S(O)_(n)—(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)_(n)-((5–20 membered) heteroaryl), —S(O)_(n)—CH₂-(C₆–C₂₀ aryl) and —S(O)_(n)—CH₂-((5–20 membered) heteroaryl); R⁶ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —C₂–C₄ alkenyl, —C₂–C₄ alkynyl, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —CF₃, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-C(═O)OR¹², —C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl, —C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl and —C₆–C₁₀ aryl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and aryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b); R⁷ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₂₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenyl, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₂₀ alkynoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —OH, —CF₃, —NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —C(═O)OR ¹², —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), -(3–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, —(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —CHO, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₃–C₂₀ cycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₄–C₂₀ cycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((C₁₀–C₂₀)bi- or tricycloalkenyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((3–20 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-(C₆–C₁₅ aryl) and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)-((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₁–C₁₅ alkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered)heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₅–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —C(═O)O(C₁–C₈ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl), C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₅–C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)-alkyl, —S(O)_(n)-cycloalkyl, —S(O)_(n)-(6 to 14 membered) aryl, —S(O)_(n)-(5 to 14 membered) heteroaryl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, wherein said heterocycloalkyl optionally contains from one to four double or triple bonds, wherein R⁷ is optionally substituted with from one to six fluorine atoms or with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1a); or alternatively R⁷ is selected from —H, —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —C₁–C₂₀ alkoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —CN, —NO₂, —C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), -(3–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, —CHO, —C(═O)(C₁–C₁₅ alkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered)heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)((5–15 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)(C₅–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), —C(═O)O(C₁–C₈ alkyl), —C(═O)N(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₁–C₁₀ alkyl), C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₆–C₁₀ aryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heteroaryl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)((5–10 membered) heterocycloalkyl), —C(═O)N(C_(zero)–C₁₀ alkyl)(C₅–C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₁–C₆ alkyl), —S(O)_(n)—(C₃–C₈ cycloalkyl), —S(O)_(n)-alkyl, —S(O)_(n)-cycloalkyl, —S(O)_(n)-(6 to 14 membered) aryl, —S(O)_(n)-(5 to 14 membered) heteroaryl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl are each optionally independently substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —C₁–C₁₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenyl, —C₁–C₁₀ alkoxy, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₁₀ alkynoxy, —NR⁹R¹⁰, (C₁–C₁₁ alkyl)—NR⁹R¹⁰, —C(═O)R¹¹, —S(O)_(n)—R¹¹, —C(═O)OR¹², —C(═O)NR⁹R¹⁰, —S(O)_(n)—NR⁹R¹⁰—C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl, —(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, —C₆–C₁₅ aryl, -(5–15 membered) heteroaryl, (5–15 membered) heterocycloalkoxy, —C₆–C₁₂ aryloxy and (6–12 membered) heteroaryloxy; or R⁶ and R⁷ may together with the carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached optionally form a five to fourteen membered cycloalkyl ring, a five to fourteen membered heterocycloalkyl ring, a ten to fourteen membered bicycloalkyl ring or a ten to fourteen membered bicycloheteroalkyl ring fused to the oxazole ring in the compound of Formula I, wherein from one to three members of said heterocycloalkyl ring or said bicycloheteroalkyl ring are selected from N, O and S, and wherein said cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl or bicylcoheteroalkyl ring optionally contains from one to three double bonds; and R⁸ is selected from —H and —C₁–C₆ alkyl; or, when Z is —C(═NR⁸)CHR¹R², R⁸ and R¹ may together with the nitrogen and carbon atoms to which they are respectively attached optionally form a five to fourteen membered heteroaryl ring or a five to eight membered heterocycloalkyl ring, wherein said heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring optionally contains from one to two further heteroatoms selected from N, O and S, and wherein said heterocycloalkyl ring optionally contains from one to three double bonds, and wherein said heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl ring is optionally substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from the group R^(1b); n is in each instance an integer independently selected from 0, 1, and 2; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds.
 2. The compounds of claim 1 wherein the stereochemistry of the R³ substituent is as shown in formula I-A below.


3. The compounds of claim 1 claim wherein Z is —C(═O)CHR¹R², R² is —H, —OH, or OC(═O)CH₃.
 4. The compounds of claim 2 wherein Z is —C(═O)CHR¹R², R² is —H, —OH, or OC(═O)CH₃.
 5. The compounds of claim 1 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)C(═O)R¹ and —SO₂R¹.
 6. The compounds of claim 2 wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)C(═O)R¹ and —SO₂R¹.
 7. The compounds of claim 1 wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of —C₁–C₁₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenyl, —C₃–C₁₀ cycloalkyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, and —C₃–C₇ cycloalkyl, wherein when R¹ is selected from the group consisting of —C₁–C₁₀ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₀ alkenyl, —C₃–C₁₀ cycloalkyl, phenyl, thienyl, pyridyl, R¹ is optionally independently substituted with from one to two substituents independently selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, —CF₃, —C₁–C₄ alkoxy, —F, —Cl, —Br, phenyl and phenoxy, wherein R¹ optionally contains one or two double or triple bonds, and wherein when R¹ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and pyridyl, R¹ further is optionally independently substituted with from one to two substituents independently selected from —F, and —Cl.
 8. The compounds of claim 1 wherein R² is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —NH₂ —OC(═O)CH₃.
 9. The compounds of claim 1 wherein R³ is selected from —C₁–C₄ alkyl, allyl, and —CH₂CH₂SCH₃.
 10. The compounds of claim 1 wherein R⁵ is H.
 11. The compounds of claim 1 wherein R⁶ is selected from the group consisting of —H, —CH₃, —F, —Cl, —Br CF₃, and —C(═O)R¹¹, and R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of —C₁–C₁₂ alkyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkenyl, —C₂–C₁₂ alkynyl, —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(C₃–C₁₅ cycloalkyl), and —(C_(zero)–C₄ alkylene)(4–15 membered) heterocycloalkyl, wherein said alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl are each optionally independently substituted with from a substituent selected from —OH, —C₁–C₆ alkoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkenoxy, —C₂–C₆ alkynoxy and —NR⁹R¹⁰.
 12. The compounds of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of 2-{2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-butyrylamino}-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester; 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (4,5-dimethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3-Phenoxy-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-4-methyl-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(4-fluoro-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(3-bromo-benzoyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-(2-Hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-butyrylamino)-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3,3-dimethyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(1-isobutylamino-ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-hydroxymethyl-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-{2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoylamino}-4-trifluoromethyl-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-[1-(3-methyl-butylamino)-ethyl]-oxazol-2-yl}-amide hydrogen chloride; 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-benzoyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-acetyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(5-Phenoxy-3-pyridyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid (5-phenyl-oxazol-2-yl)-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-propanoic acid [4-(phenyl)-5-(ethyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [5-(2-hyroxypropyl)-oxazol-2-yl]-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-(carboxy)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid {5-(phenyl)-oxazol-2-yl}-amide; and 2-[2-(3,5-Difluoro-phenyl)-acetylamino]-pentanoic acid [(5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester-5-trifluoromethyl)oxazol-2-yl]-amide.
 13. A method of treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, in a mammal by inhibiting Aβ-production, comprising administering to said mammal an amount of the compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) the compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (b) an active agent selected from the group consisting of a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent and anti-hypertensive agent.
 15. A method of treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, cerebral amyloid angiopathy in a mammal, by inhibiting Aβ-production, comprising administering to said mammal (a) the compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) an active agent selected form the group consisting of a memory enhancement agent, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic agent, sleep disorder agent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-oxidant agent, cholesterol modulating agent and anti-hypertensive agent. 